Welcome to Wrexham is the new docuseries coming to Hulu that will tell the story of the Welsh football team owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. As many know by now, the two stars bought the small-town football club in 2021 and have been running it since then, to the amusement of many. They are, after all, two American celebrities who know nothing about football. But Welcome to Wrexham is an underdog story all around, not just for the team but its owners as well. Though they might not know how to captain a football team, Reynolds and McElhenney know how to make TV, and they’re using the skills they have to give their team a leg up in the coming season.
But Welcome to Wrexham is about more than just a winning football team. It’s about lifting up a community. The trailer shows Reynolds and McElhenney going through the town of Wrexham, fielding questions from Wrexham fans, and is set to the resounding chant of the people echoing “Wrexham, Wrexham” as one begins to understand the true nature of this inspiring story. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney appear to be dedicated to changing this football club in a big way, and the whole town may be coming with it. No one knows what the future may hold, but here’s what we know about Welcome to Wrexham.
Welcome to Wrexham: The Plot
The series is certain to be full of drama. Football means a lot to people in the UK, and some might not take it well to have two wealthy foreigners move in and practically buy up their town. In some places, a football team is a town’s identity, and it seems Wrexham is no different. Reynolds and McElhenney will definitely have an uphill battle to be accepted by locals that may see their involvement as an intrusion.
Along with their challenge of being accepted by the locals, it will be a tough climb to rehabilitate the team as well. From the trailer, we saw the professional football team’s gym look about equal to your uncle’s dusty Bowflex in the basement. We got a look at the entire grass field being replaced too. Reynolds was quoted saying, “We’re gonna have to do this the hard way,” when the team was denied an automatic promotion to League-level football in the UK. This would be similar to moving an entire baseball team from competing in AAA to the Majors.
McElhenney’s and Reynolds’ ambition is nothing short of the FIFA World Cup. But before they try to win the World Cup, they’ll have to win the home game, as they invest in the people of Wrexham and bring the spirit of teamwork into their goals in the town and on the pitch.
Welcome to Wrexham: The Cast
The cast for the new docuseries is no secret. Obviously, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are going to take center stage, but nearly the whole town of Wrexham is going to star in this show. The cast on IMDb lists everyone from the Wrexham Forward Paul Mullin to the team’s Head Groundsman Paul Chaloner. The docuseries seems to be the most involved in the new owners’ relationship with the town.
Even now, the BBC is publishing news about celebrities in the small village, as Ryan Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, donated hundreds of signed DVDs to a local video shop. Apparently, the two were clearing out their office and had a bunch of extra movies lying around. Rob Clarke, the owner of the video shop, said to the BBC, "They signed them all and said would you like them? We decided on what to do with them, and asked Ryan if he minded if we raised money for charity, and he said that was a good idea.” The owner’s son has a rare blood disease called Immune Thrombocytopenia, and he is using the profits he makes from the signed movies to raise money and awareness for people who suffer from this strange disease. He made a point of saying, "Ryan Reynolds sent me these things, and he did not know about my son."
It seems the new docuseries will be as much about the town as it will be the team. From the stories on the news, the stars are as equally invested in supporting the citizens of Wrexham as they are managing the football team. So, it’s likely the townspeople will appear with the footballers. Of course, the team is a big part of the series. In the trailer, we see them training quite hard, as the show's tone becomes one of renewal. The Wrexham facilities are displayed in a poor state, and even the field is in need of a massive makeover. Team members are seen doing drills and celebrating from cuts of their games. We’ll likely get to see interviews with the players about how they feel about being bought by Hollywood celebrities and shots of Reynolds and McElhenney getting to know the players. The series might also feature Reynolds’ wife, Blake Lively, as well as their two sons.
Release Date
The new series is coming to Hulu on August 24, 2022.